tegart



Patented May 10,1881.

J. TEGART. Trace Coupling.'

(No Model.)

N. PETBS. Phnto- Lithngraphen Waxhlnginn. D. C.

Nieren STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES TEGART, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ADOLPH F. BERGMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,167, dated May 10, 1881.

Application filed December 21, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES TEGART, of Minneapolis, in the county ot' Hennepin and State Ot' Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements in Trace-Couplings, ot' which the following is a specitication. A

This invention relates to the traces or tugs of harness for horses, Sac.; and it consists iu a metallic plate attached to the haines, and

11 provided with a series ot' peculiarly-formed slots adapted toreceive and hold a metal clip or hook upon the end of the tug, whereby the length ot' the latter may be adjusted, as hereinafter shown. I obtain these results by the 15 use of the mechanismillustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation. Fig. 1I is a plan view, partially in section, illustrating the manner ot' forming and arranging the metal 2O strip and tug-hook, Fig. III, a perspective view ot' the tug-hook and a portion ot the metal hook detached.

A is a metal strip having a leather back, a, secured thereto to prevent its chatin g the horse, and provided with a loop, l), at one end by which it is connected to Athe hame in any suitable manner, and two loops, c c', on the upper and lower edges, near the opposite end, adapted to receive. the back-strap and bellyband ot' the harness, while a t'ourth loop, d, is intended to receive the holdback-strap otl the breeching. Atequal distances apart along the strip A slots o are cut through it, and with the sides g g cut away at the center for a short distance, as shown.

h h are small hoods or covers having hollow spaces t' beneath them.

B is a metal strip secured to thc end ofthe tug C, and having a fiat point, n1, on the for- 40 ward end, and a shouldered pin, n, projecting` from its lower surface. rlhe shank of the piu n is made the same width as the main part of the slot e, while the shoulders on the piu are adapted to pass through the side notches, gg', so that when the Hat point m is inserted beneath the hood h, and the shoulders and pin a passed down through the notches g g' and pulled backward, the shoulders will pass beneath the corners ee2,a1id thus lock the plate 'B into the plate A. 5o

Upon top of the tiat pointm, I secure a piece ot' rubber or other suitable substance, t, to hold the plate B backward after heilig locked into one ot the slots e, so that any ordinar y jarring or pulling will not release it, and also to prevent rattling; but to make it still more secure I use the hoods h, so that in event ot' the pin u Working forward the plate B will be held by the point m beneath the hood.

By this arrangement, when it is desired to 6c, lengthen or shorten the tugs it is only necessary to push the plate B forward until the shoulders on the pin n are beneath the slotsg g', when it may be removed and inserted into one ofthe other slots, as shown at D, Fig. Il, which represents the position ot' the plate B when being inserted or removed.

l am aware that it is not new to use a shouldered pin on a metal strip in tug-couplings; but such l do not claim, broadly. 7o

The combination, with the plate A, having the slots e e g g and hoods h, ot' the plate B, provided with the shouldered pin n,at point m, and elastic cushion t, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereot'l have hereunto set my hand in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES TEGART.

Witnesses:

J. W. BRAssHALL, v ELIsHA MORSE. 

